Key Tips for Effective Email Marketing [5 Minute Read]

Did you know that email marketing is still one of the most effective marketing channels?

In fact, on average, emails generate $42 for every $1 spent, which equals a whopping 4,200% ROI!!! 

That means email marketing can be one of the most effective marketing channels in your mix.

So you shouldn’t be wondering if you should use email marketing.

Instead, you should be asking yourself, how can use email marketing more effectively? 

Good news! We’ve got the answer to just that in today's article.

Read on.

Segment Your Contacts

Did you know 56% of users unsubscribe to emails because the content isn't relevant to them?

You can ensure your contacts receive relevant content by segmenting them into lists. Separate them based on buyer persona characteristics or on actions they have completed on your website (fill out a form, complete a transaction, etc.)

New subscribers should receive content that introduces your organization and lets them form a connection. Long-time subscribers already know why your organization benefits them, so the emails they receive should be updates, success stories, special offers, and news.

By making sure that your contacts are receiving the most relevant content, you are building a personal relationship with them which will encourage them to engage with your organization.

Send Relevant Content

After segmenting your lists, think about your goals for each list. What action do you want them to complete after they read your email? It’s easier to choose what content to send once you know what the end goal is for the user.

Here are some ideas for relevant content to send to your subscribers:

Most Successful Content

Refer to your data and metrics to see which pieces of content performed best on your website and on your social media. After you identify your “high-performers,” promote them even more by finding a way to make it work in your email marketing strategy. Think about why these posts were successful with your audience and what value they will provide to your subscribers.

Newsletters

Newsletters are a very traditional part of email marketing—and for good reason. They are relevant to both new subscribers and long-time subscribers because they’re simple and informative. You can include your latest blog posts, share an upcoming event, or just provide organizational updates all in one email. The goal of sending newsletters is to get your readers to click through to your website to further engage with your content, so don’t include full stories in your email. Instead, write a small blurb that sparks their interest to click through to your site for the whole piece of content.

Individual Success Stories and Blog Posts

Newsletters have multiple calls to action on them to click through to various stories, but there’s no guarantee that your readers will read every single one. That’s why it’s effective to also send emails promoting your latest blog posts or success stories individually.

Your goal for these emails is for your reader to click through and read your post. To entice them to click through, your email should explain to your reader why that specific story is relevant to them. For example, if you're leading them to a blog post that contains time-saving tips, then let them know that they should read it to simplify an everyday task they already do.

Event Promotion

If your goal is to improve attendance at your next event, then it is crucial that you send event promotion emails. While these types of emails make sense to send to all of your contacts, they may be relevant for different reasons. For new subscribers, it is a great way for them to learn more about your organization and build a connection. For long-time subscribers, email is a great channel to excite and inform them about an upcoming event. Consider sending different emails to each list, so that the copy meets everyone’s needs.

Sending event promotion emails to your audience is a great way to encourage them to engage with your organization. In each email, be sure to inform them of the value they will get from attending, as well as important event details. You should send multiple emails to each segment such as reminder emails a month before, two weeks before, and the week of the event to those who have registered. For those who haven’t registered, try sending reminder-to-sign-up emails at the same frequency.

Urgent Needs

If your organization is in urgent need of supplies or volunteers, then email is a great channel to get the word out. Your most loyal advocates are more likely to help, but depending on the level of urgency, you might want to reach out to your new subscribers too.

It’s always more effective to stay positive and make your reader feel like they’re making a difference by helping your organization, instead of using a sad, guilt-driven appeal.

Email marketing is an essential part of any marketing strategy because it can convert more leads to customers, ultimately driving more growth while decreasing the cost to acquire a customer. Follow these tips to ensure that you are sending the most relevant content to the right people. And if you're not getting the results you want with email marketing check out our free guide.

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